car battery failure

[peszy]

I have a 20 month old renault megane, with 10,000 miles on the clock and the engine has failed to start for a third time due to a battery problem, on each occassion I have had the AA out. The last two times the AA has given me their wriiten breakdown fault advising of a suspected battery fault. The previous two times were last winter when the car was less than 12 months old. When I took it back to the main dealer they tested the battery and said it didn't have a fault and as such Renault would not let them replace it with another. The AA man said I should replace it immediately as it will go flat again soon in his opinion. The car is still within the manufacturers/battery warrenty but I feel they will say no again. How can I prove to them the battery is near the end of its life and they should replace it.

[rnchugg]

Hi personally I would get the battery tested again by an independent garage or car electric testers. I would get a written report. Then go back to where you bought the car and produce the written results. If they still refuse to change the battery go to trading standards. There is somthing wrong either a bad earth, or your battery is kaput! Good luck

[bednobs]

hmm, i would be more inclined to believe the garage tbh, after all they said there was nothing wrong with it and have been proved right by the fact you have had 8 months further use wthout problem

[rnchugg]

Bednobs I would ordinarily agree with you but peszy said that it happened last winter and now with the cold weather there is a pattern. I have been in the trade for many years and have noticed that in colder weather batterys loose more charge than in warm. Also with more useage of lights and heaters it will drain quicker. The other fact that I should have said would be get your alternator checked as it MIGHT NOT be charging the battery properly. Naturally as I said earlier in the winter more electrical equipment is used so the drain can be quicker.

[dm1982]

i have also been in the trade for some years and when batterys are gubbed they are gubbed !! they dont decide to work when the suns out and then go back to bed when its winter time!! if its gubbed its gubbed !! if its fine its fine!! remember also in summer time the battery would take a hammering with air con and climate control etc etc